Still, the regulator found that 17pc of households are now using mobile broadband to access online services, with 7pc using it as their only means of internet access compared to 3pc in 2009.

Ed Richards, Ofcom chief executive, said: "This research gives consumers a clearer picture of the performance of mobile broadband dongle and datacards as consumers use these services to complement fixed-line services or sometimes as their principal means of accessing online services."